Miscellaneous documents
Reference: D/X 1035 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Letters from the Graham family of Killhope
Covering Dates: 1850-late 20th century
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- Miscellaneous documents
Catalogue Description
Letters from members of the Graham familyand others at Killhope, 1852 - 1887
deposited 4 August 1993
(Acc: 2305)
County Record Office,
County Hall,
DURHAM.
DHl 5UL
Telephone (091) 383 3253
The letters described in this catalogue are some of those sent to Joseph Graham, John Peart and other members of the Peart family in the U.S.A. by their family and friends in Weardale and in the U.S.A. (1852-1887). The letters emanate primarily from the Graham family in Killhope but there are also a few from the Peart family in Allendale. Also included are 3 letters (2 from Robert Wilkinson and 1 from Jacob Peart) which were written in the U.S.A. In some cases the intended recipient of the letter is unclear. In other cases the letter is probably meant for a number of recipients all of whom cannot be identified. In these instances an educated guess has had to be made as to the most probable recipient or recipients. Given the large size of the families involved in this correspondence a short family pedigree has been compiled to aid the searcher.
The primary recipients of the letters are Joseph Graham of Killhope who emigrated to the U.S.A. in early 1852 and his friend, John Peart from Allendale who probably emigrated at the same time. Joseph left behind his mother, ten brothers and sisters and his daughter Jane Ann Milburn (whose mother he appears not to have married). John Peart left behind his mother and 7 brothers and sisters. His brother and sister Jacob and Hannah Peart were subsequently to emigrate to the U.S.A. also. Both Joseph and John were leadminers before leaving Weardale as were the majority of their male relatives and friends.
Joseph Graham and John Peart eventually went to live in Caton/Corning, New York where they became farmers. Joseph married Hannah Peart, John' s sister, after her emigration to the U.S.A. in 1854. John Peart' s wife was called Elizabeth, it is not known where she originated from.
Two of the letters were written from Pennsylvania by Robert Wilkinson, John Peart 's brother-in-law. Wilkinson had married Margaret Peart in Allendale prior to their emigration. Wilkinson became a coalminer in Blossburg, Pennsylvania.
Two of the letters were written from Pennsylvania by Robert Wilkinson, a friend of both men. Wilkinson appears to have been from Weardale also, although no information is given of his family 's exact whereabouts. Wilkinson may possibly have emigrated at the same time as Joseph and John. Wilkinson was a coalminer in Blossburg, Pennsylvania and in his letters he is most insistent that Joseph and John should come work with him in the mines. (It is not mentioned in any of the letters whether they actually do).
Jacob Peart, the brother of John arrived in U.S.A. in 1853. He was the writer of one of the most notable of the letters. It was sent from Mississippi just after the Civil War while he was serving in the 7th Illinois Cavalry. Robert Wilkinson also served in the same regiment.
As with all letters we learn much more about the writer than the recipient. Consequently, with these letters what we learn most of is the lives and the harsh conditions endured by the leadminers of Weardale and their families. Although most of these letters were written during the period when leadmining was at its height, they reflect the fairly precarious financial status of the miners. The bargain system meant that the mine owners entered into a contract with the miner, or more commonly a group of miners (partners), for work to be done in a particular mine. The amount of payment depended on the type of work contracted. In cases where the bargain was for ore extraction, then payment would probably depend on the weight of ore extracted and the price by weight agreed in the conditions of the bargain. In Weardale payment was usually made to the miners on a yearly or six monthly basis. Unfortunately by the time any advances made by employers were deducted there was nothing left to pay. It is little wonder that some members of the Graham family and many other leadminers had to rely on small scale farming to make ends meet.
The letters also describe very vividly the various illnesses, sometimes fatal, which afflicted several members of the Graham family. Whether the cause of some of these illnesses could be directly attributed to the working conditions endured in the leadmines is open to conjecture. Perhaps Jonathan Graham sums the matter up best when he says in one of his letters, 'It is an unhealthy business, is this mining'.
Catalogue Contents
Ref: D/X 1035/1
Page of letter from [member of Graham family?] to [Joseph Graham in U.S.A.?] concerning produce and livestock prices and news of family and friends; states that no letter has been received from 'your brothers in New Zealand' for two years, and also that two letters from John Milburn who has bought a house and 1/2 acre land, have been received, n.d. [1850-1870s?]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/2Letter from Christopher Graham, Killhope, to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., concerning family news and produce and livestock prices, including news of the marriage of John Graham [to Ann Kidd] in June [1852] and the birth of their first child in July [1852]; also of the marriage of Hannah [Graham] to Nicholas P[e]adon in May [1852]; states that Thomas [Graham] has returned to work after an illness, his wife [Tamar] has had a son and that there have been good crops generally in the last year and that stock is selling well; and that the last letter from [Joseph] was received on 24 August [1852], 3 October [1852]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/3Letter from John Graham, Killhope, to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., written in reply to a letter received on 30 October 1852 and concerning mainly family and local news; including news of [Joseph' s] daughter Jane Ann [Milburn] who is still in Weardale; also of Aunt Betty and John, [Elizabeth Hodgson and John Peart of Killhope] who are reported to be well, also gives news of births in the family: Thomas Milburn [and Mary Graham, his wife] have a son, Thomas Graham has a son, the writer has a daughter; reports that Jacob [Graham] has been apprenticed to Thomas Slack, shoemaker at Alston; Hannah [Peadon, née Graham] is servant to Thomas Cholteart at Pastergrove grinder; also gives details of how family members are faring in the leadmining industry; the bargain previously held by [Joseph] was held by Christopher [Graham] from March to October [1852] but it proved to be very poor, the writer and [his brothers] Christopher, Thomas and Jonathan and also Isaac [Peart of Killhope?] have let of a good gro[o]ve at Cowshill?; [Joseph' s] three former partners are now working at [Burtree] Pasture grove where they have another three partners; Thomas Milburn and Thomas [Graham] are working together and are doing well; William [Graham] is also doing well at work; John Peart' s friends are reported to be well; list given of local men who have gone to the gold digging in Australia and others who have gone to America, 6 November 1852,
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/4Letter from Robert Wilkinson, Blossburg, Tioca County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. to [Joseph Graham and John Peart] in U.S.A., writer states that Margaret [his wife] has been very sick since their arrival in Blas Bourg last Monday [7 February 1853] but is now recovered, he has a nice house and has a job in a coal mine at Mars Run where he works together with Ball? and another Englishman and his two sons; states that they make only8 dollars for working 5 nights and 6 days per week as the mine is very wet; the writer states that he thinks [Graham and Peart] would prefer working in the mines to the woods, also mentions that there are many of their countrymen in the area and the ways are much like home; asks that they write, passing on any news from home and also invites them to visit; mentions that Elizabeth Jane [writer's daughter] is well, 16 February 1853,
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/5Letter from Robert Wilkinson and family of Blossburg, Tioca County, Pennsylvania, to [Joseph Graham and John Peart], U.S.A., written in reply to a letter received 7 May 1853; states that Blossburg is a good place for making money but that it is a very wild place at the new mines; states that board is very expensive, 20s a week, and the wages are from 8 dollars a week or 2 dollars a day; earned $34.50c. last month, now works with 4 partners and they are paid $2.25 a yard, they can cut from 5 to 6 feet a shift between two men, without using powder; powder costs 7 or 8 cents a day; believes that he could make more money if he had a good man with him, would like [Graham and Peart] for partners; states that he has built a new house at the new mines and has only 5 or 10 dollars left to pay on it; advises [Graham and Peart] to take to mining when 'their time is up' as he thinks they could make 9 or 10 dollars a week for working an 8 hour day; states that [Graham and Peart] can board with him if they come to the area to stay; gives directions to his house in Blossburg; mentions that he sent a letter to Jacob [Peart] giving him directions also; reiterates that they must consider working in coalmines in Blossburg and says they should visit on Saturday, 8 May1853
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/6Letter from Hannah Graham [sister or mother of Joseph Graham] to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., written in reply to letter received 16 February 1853; the writer wants to know how [Joseph's] frostbitten toe is; reports that Thomas [Graham] is better and is back at work at [Burtree] Pasture grove which he enjoys; cousin John Peart does not enjoy working there though; William [Graham] has been ill but is now much better; states that William [Graham] had £50 for his last pay, John [Graham] has £13, Jonathan [Graham] had £9, Christopher [Graham] had £4 and Thomas [Graham] had £5; the writer asks if 'the three sent peace' [3 cent piece] which [Joseph] sent over was for his brother John [Graham] or cousin John [Peart]; mentions that mother [Hannah] is 'middling well' as are the rest of the family; Thomas Milburn is thinking of coming to America but would prefer to go to Illanose [Illinois] or Gellanea?; Joshua Stobbs, Aunt Betty and Cousin John [Elizabeth Hodgson and John Peart] send their best wishes; states that this winter there has been the worst storm in 30 years; the storm began on 21 January and has not yet finished, many lives have been lost due to it, 2 March 1853
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/7Letter from Joshua Stobbs [Greenfields] to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., concerning family news; reports that Isabella [Dalton, nee Graham] had a daughter on 26 February 1853; Hannah [Peadon, nee Graham] had a daughter on 1 April 1853; William [Graham] had a severe illness lasting 8 or 9 weeks but is now recovered and working at Breckonsike where he earns £2 per month; the writer gives details of wrestling matches that William [Graham] saw on a visit to Newcastle; reports that Thomas Milburn and family are in good health; Thomas [Graham] is much better now and is working alongside the writer' s former partners at the fore end of Burtree Pasture [grove]: the writer is in good health and has got a 'washing place' at Breckonsike but hasn' t started there yet; wishes to pass his respects on to John Peart, 2 April 1853
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/8Letter from [Peart family in Allendale] to [Margaret and Robert Wilkinson] and [Joseph Graham and John Peart?], in U.S.A., written in reply to letter received 12 August 1853; state that they are happy that Jacob [Peart] has landed safely [in U.S.A.] and that they are pleased that John [Peart] and Joseph [Graham] are intending to come home next spring; report that Watson [Peart] had £22 pay last year and expects to get much the same for his next pay; state that many Allendale men are working in Derwent and Rookhope; old Thomas Nattress and Uncle William send their regards; thanks Margaret [Robert Wilkinson' s wife] for her enquiry after the health of [her sisters], Hannah and Mary [both Peart] and report that they are both well; also mentions that Elizabeth [Peart] is staying at John Wilkinson' s, 30 August 1853
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/9Letter from [John Graham], Burnthills, to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A.; writer states that he has had no word from [Joseph] since March and has not had a reply to his last letter; admits to being astonished that [Joseph] had tried, in his last letter, to discourage those at home from going to America; the writer states that he feels that the state where [Joseph] lives [New York] must be the worst one for the labouring man; gives a list of people from Weardale who have emigrated to America; states that Featherstone Phillipson of Ireshopeburn, a former mining partner of Thomas Milburn, has bought land in Upper Canada, west of Hamilton near Lake Erie, and is living well from the land; also states that Fleamen and Wearmouth have also bought about 100 acres near Lake Erie and they say there is plenty of work and good wages there; the writer states he heard of a man called John Featherston who went from ' this country' penniless to America and is now very rich in property; reckons that about 100 people left Weardale for America in spring with more planning to go in autumn; reports that John Peart' s sister, Hannah, has arrived in New York after an 18 day journey; the writer asks if [Joseph] could write in his next letter of any news of Hannah and also let him know if John and Jane Dowson had also arrived in America; gives a list of names of Weardale men going to Australia; mentions that a party of men from the
local area came back [from Australia?] after an absence of 13 months with a fortune of £1200 or £1300 each, 1 August 1854
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/10Letter from John Graham, [Burnthills], to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., concerning mainly family matters and produce and livestock prices; reports that Thomas [Graham] has recovered from illness; William [Graham] is also well; Jane Ann [Joseph' s daughter] has been slightly ill but is now recovered; mother [Hannah] is weaker than before but is still able to do housework; Joshua Stobbs' daughter, Hannah, is a bit poorly and Aunt Betty [Elizabeth Hodgson] is also much weaker than she was; also reports that [cousin] John [Peart] will not go to America while his mother [Aunt Betty] lives and at the moment is working at Burtree pasture grove mine and will probably have a good pay for the year; the writer and [his brothers] Christopher and Jonathon will also have a good pay for the year; also states that Thomas Milburn and Nicholas Peadon both have master work this year; Joshua Stobbs is a master washer at Burtree pasture [grove] mine; the writer does not know how Thomas Dalton has done this year; Thomas [Graham] has had bad work the last 2 or 3 years and he [Thomas] feels that if [Joseph] had to work 'where a candel will not burn' then he would not be so against him going to America; the writer gives various livestock and produce prices and states that the cost of living is at its highest in living memory; also mentions that according to newspapers the cholera epidemic has receded in Britain; the writer also states that he thinks that the allies should be able to enforce a peace with Russia in the Crimean War, n.d. [1 August 1854, continuation of D/X 1035/9?]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/11Letter from [John Graham], Burnthills, to [Joseph Graham in U.S.A.], written in reply to letter received on 15 May 1855 which had been the first letter received [from Joseph] since September 1854; states that Mary [Milburn, née Graham] died of black erysipelus on 30 January 1855 following the birth of her 10th child, a daughter, on 9 January 1855; she was survived by 8 children; her death means that Thomas Milburn [her husband] will be unable to go to America at least until the children are older; also reports that William [Graham] has been ill since December 1884 when he developed an abcess on the small of his back, the abcess subsequently grew to the size of a man ' s head and had to be lanced, a quart of fluid was lost from the wound each time it was drained, it appears he is now much recovered; Jane Ann would like to see her father [Joseph] again but doesn' t want to go to Amercia; [Joseph' s] mother [Hannah Graham] also sends her best wishes; states that Christopher [Graham] is doing well at farming and has a good stock of animals despite the high price of land rental; gives produce prices and states that this is the hardest times that he remembers but fortunately the pays in the last year were also the best ever, 19 May 1855
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/12 (1) & (2)Part letter from [John Graham], Burnthills, to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., written in reply to letter received 30 August 1855; states that William [Graham] is now almost confined to bed and is ' like a skeleton', he [William] has been unable to work since March [1855] due to a large lump on his back, this has much reduced but he has also developed a lump on his abdomen, the doctors think that he has a chance of recovery; the writer mentions that he had a letter from Walton Gibson which he intends to reply to; reports that Gibson lives on the north shore of Lake Erie, although he owns no land, he has let of a farm in summer and sells his stock in winter, he has a good house and a good wage; the writer also states his intention to write to Bill James who lives further east than Walton Gibson, reports that Bill James has done very well and owns 90 acres of land for which he paid $10,000 or £2,000 and $2,000 per year, he has a brick house and a fruit orchard, his last crop was 500 bushels of wheat along with other crops; the writer states that he and his brothers Chrisopher and Jonathon and also Isaac Peart have been working together for very little pay this year; Thomas Milburn is still working for a wage at [Burtree] Pasture grove; Joshua Stobbs is a masterman washer at [Burtree] pasture grove; Nicholas P[e]adon is the minder of a new boudle at [Burtree] Pasture grove washing place; no-one knows what the pays in the mines will be yet; states that living over the last 2 years has been very hard, gives stock and produce prices, 1855
(2 papers)
Ref: D/X 1035/13Letter from Watson Peart [Allendale] to [John Peart ] in U.S.A., written in reply to letter received 5 September 1855; the writer states that he had a letter from Jacob [Peart] on 24 September, Jacob is living in Vinegar Hill with Walton Read but is talking of going to California, although both the writer and [John Peart] are against him going; the writer states that he is sorry to hear that Hannah [Peart, their sister, also in U.S.A.] has been disabled this summer with 'arysipelus on her arms'; also reports that there has been a bad case of fever in Weardale; Adam [Peart] collapsed with fever, was ill for 8 weeks, has now recovered and is working at the washing at Respay in Rookhope; the writer states that he has been parted from his former partners, James Phillipson, Richard Ward and Thomas Heslop for almost a year; states he is now working with Matthew Waggot as his partner at a limestone forehead; Hugh Bell and Heslop are working at the same place; the writer states that he doesn' t expect to make any pay for the last year, although he made a 'fair pay' of £46 last year; mentions that Elizabeth [John Peart' s sister] is well and is living with her uncle Joseph and John Watson and his wife, 5 October 1855
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/14Part letter from J[ohn] Graham [Burnthills] to [Joseph Graham], reports that Thomas [Graham] has got his health back and the rest of the family are well and still working at [Burtree] pasture grove; all had a good pay last year and expect to do well this year; mother' s [Hannah] health has been middling and she 'got up some blood' around the time of William [Graham' s] death [May 1856] but has got a lot better since; also Jane Ann [Joseph' s] daughter is keeping well and is very like her mother; the family is doing very well at farming, they have good stock and are growing hay; the writer and his brothers Christopher and Jonathan are working with Adam Peart and four other partners at draining the hard level in the Killhope head vein at the top of the limestone; states that last year' s pays were the best in Weardale but living costs have been very high; gives list of produce and livestock prices; mentions that coal costs 5[s] per cwt. at Stanhope and 6[s] per cwt. at Westgate, the train comes as far as Westgate with coal and takes ironstone back with it to Stanhope; mentions that reports in newspapers say that it has been a very good year for crops, n.d. [1856?]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/15Transcript of letter from Elizabeth Peart [Allendale] to [Robert Wilkinson and Margaret Wilkinson, nee Peart]; the writer states she is still not fully well, also that Adam [Peart] had typhus fever last summer and Watson [Peart] had to leave the house in case he caught it; reports that Jacob [Peart] sent over £20 [from U.S.A.] and also that a letter had been received from John and Hannah [Peart] who are doing well; the writer expresses her sorrow that [her daughter] Marg[aret] was ' ever hid from my eyes on this side of the grave'; states that Elizabeth [Peart] is staying with her Uncle Jos[eph Watson] and that she is 'a pious girl'; also that Watson [Peart] is a Sunday School teacher; the writer advises that [Robert and Margaret Wilkinson] should become religious; also mentions that times are very hard and that it was just as well that Jacob [Peart] sent over money from U.S.A. as Watson [Peart] only had £2 pay; gives family news: Adam [Peart] is working at Rookhope; John [Peart, son of Elizabeth's daughter Mary] will soon be ready for work; Uncle Jo[seph Watson] is poorly, 8 January 1856 [transcript and facsimile, 20th c.]
(1 paper, photocopied facsimile)
Ref: D/X 1035/16Letter from Jonathan Graham, Killhope, to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., reports that all the family is well except for Joshua Stubbs ' eldest daughter [Elizabeth] who is just recovering from 'typus fever' [typhus]; mother [Hannah Graham] is well; states that the family is doing well in the lead mines; the writer and his brothers John and Christopher are working together with 5 men and will have over £20 per man in pay; Thomas [Graham] will make more (than £20 for his pay); states that although the cost of living is still high it seems to have got a bit cheaper; gives a list of produce and livestock prices and also the prices paid for some farm animals sold by the family; the writer mentions that at the time of writing there is a great snow storm; reports that Thomas Milburn is now married to Hannah Milburn; Jane Ann [Joseph's daughter] is still staying with the Grahams at Killhope; Aunt Betty [Elizabeth Hodgson] is wearing down and now has to keep a servant; the writer states that he would like to come to America to be a farmer or at least visit next summer as he feels 'mining is an unhealthy business', 27 December 1856
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/17Letter from Jonathan Graham, Killhope, to [Joseph Graham], written in reply to letter received end of July [1857?]; reporting that mother [Hannah Graham], Joshua [Stobbs] and family are recovered from their ill health and the rest of the family are well; also reports that they had a fine harvest and a very dry summer, says that the cost of living is still high although the price of corn is on the decline; states that the family is doing 'middling' in the mines; mentions that Watson Peart says he has answered all the letters received from John [Peart] in U.S.A. but will write very shortly in any case; the writer states that he would like to have come out to America at the end of the present year but Thomas [Graham] has told him to wait until spring of next year when he will come too; sends best wishes to [Joseph] and his wife, 2 September [1857?]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/18Part letter from [Jonathan Graham] to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., written in reply to letter received 5 April 1858; the writer states that he would have written earlier but did not know where to write as [Joseph] had said in a previous letter he may be moving; also reports that John [Graham] died on 31 October 1857, leaving a widow [Ann] and 3 children, he died after 13 hours of severe illness from a bowel complaint but had suffered from a stomach complaint for 2 years before his death; John [Graham' s] youngest daughter died on 29 March 1858 of a fever which had been widespread in the county; also reports that mother [Hannah] is in good health considering her age; Betty [Elizabeth Stobbs, nee Graham] has been poorly but looks set to recover; states that the family is doing well in the mines, the last pay was £20 per man; Jacob [Graham] is almost master of his trade [shoemaking] and his apprenticeship will soon be over; the writer also mentions that Jacob reminds him of their deceased brother William [Graham] as he was at the time when [Joseph] left for U.S.A., 10 April 1858
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/19(1) & (2)Letter from Christopher Graham, Killhope, to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A, stating that no reply has yet been received to Jonathan [Graham 's] letter sent April 1858; reports that Aunty Betty [Elizabeth Hodgson] died April [1858] and also that William [Graham 's] son died soon after; Jane Ann [Joseph' s daughter] is going to school, John [Graham' s] widow [Ann] had another child in April [1858]; the writer states that he and [his brother] Jonathan are working at Park [level] at Killhope with James Carrick, Thomas Peart and two Isaac Pearts as their partners; states that Thomas [Graham] is in good health and has 4 sons and a daughter but has no pay; Thomas Dalton has a good pay; also mentions that corn prices are low now so living is 'canny'; gives various stock and produce prices; gives details of livestock held on the Grahams' farm; reports that [cousin] John Peart is working with Frank Peart and 4 other men; the writer thinks that John Peart must have a good pay as he [John] ' often goes to drink and often fites'; mentions that the Graham household is quiet now as [religious] meetings are held at the house every 2 weeks following a revival at Lanehead last winter; mentions there was also a revival in Alston; also states that Jacob [Graham] came to stay for a week at Christmas and often went with the writer to the Lanehead meeting which he [Jacob] often addressed; Jacob is also a preacher on the Alston [Methodist] Circuit; Jacob also finished his apprenticeship [as a shoemaker] in October [1858], he is staying on with Thomas Slack and has not worked much since his apprenticeship ended, 4 February 1859
(2 papers)
Ref: D/X 1035/20(1) & (2)Part letter from Elizabeth and Watson Peart [Allendale] to [John Peart] in U.S.A., reporting that Mary [Peart] has had the fever but now seems to be recovering; mother [Elizabeth Peart] is well; Elizabeth [Peart, John' s sister] is well and staying with Uncle Joseph; Adam [Peart] and John [Peart] are also well; Watson is working in Hezel Level with Thomas Heslop [John Peart' s former partner], George Charlton, William Waggot, George Curry and Hugh Bell; the writer [Watson] mentions that pays have been very bad and that he is glad that [John Peart] is prospering as a farmer; gives a list of produce prices; also thinks that Mary [Peart] has caught a cold by going out to do sewing for people but she makes 'many a shilling' by doing it, 19 May 1859
(2 papers)
Ref: D/X 1035/21Part letter from [Jonathan Graham], Killhope, to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., states that there have been no letters from [Joseph] for over 2 years; the writer reports that he still lives at home with [his brothers] Jacob and Christopher [Graham]; Jacob [Graham] has started a shoemakers business in Copthill, he is doing well and has plenty of work; both the writer and Christopher [Graham] are working at the mines along with 6 other men, they have made little more than 10s. per week over the last 3 years, there appears to be no sign of improvement; also reports that the Graham family farm is doing very well and has now 4 cows, 2 horses
and nearly 60 sheep; gives details of family circumstances; Thomas [Graham] has 5 sons and a daughter and still lives at Burnthills where he has a small farm; Thomas Dalton still lives at High Allers and has 4 sons and 2 daughters; Nicholas P[e]adon lives at Grain and has 3 daughters; Joshua Stobbs lives at Greenfield and has 6 daughters and 1 son; John [Graham' s] widow [Ann] lives at Burn Hills and has 3 daughters; Thomas Milburn still lives at the old place [in Burnthills], he has 4 sons and 4 daughters by Mary [the Grahams ' deceased sister]; the writer says 'he takes no business' with Thomas Milburn 's new wife [Hannah Milburn]; the writer states that the rest of the family are no doubt doing better in the mines than he is; cousin John Peart still lives at Burn Button and is keeping well; reports that 'the living is tolerably fair given the present state of things' , 30 January 1861
(1 paper, part missing)
Ref: D/X 1035/22Letter from Christopher Graham, Killhope, to [Joseph Graham] in U.S.A., states that it has been a long time since any letter was received from [Joseph]; Watson Peart came over from Allendale with a letter [from John Peart in U.S.A.] in the summer, the letter said that [Joseph] was working in a sawmill and doing well; the writer states that he still works in the mines, payment is still twice yearly, November and June; states that he had no pay in June but got paid in November; also states that there have been fair pays in general in Weardale; Jacob [Graham] is still shoemaking and still owns his own shop in Copthill, the writer believes Jacob to be paid 'as well as any'; reports that Jonathan [Graham] died on 31 July 1864 aged 29, he suffered from 2 abcesses and had been ill for nearly 3 years; Jane Ann [Joseph' s daughter] is still living with the writer and Jacob [Graham] along with Joshua Stobbs ' daughter Mary Ann who helps [Jane Ann] [with the housework?], Joshua Stobbs and Betty [Elizabeth Stobbs, née Graham] have 2 daughters who are married and only one son and daughter left at home; Nicholas P[e]adon has 3 daughters and a son Jo[seph, born before his mother' s marriage]; Thomas Milburn died nearly 2 years ago and left a large family; states the summer was fine and corn prices are low but stock prices high; the writer says that he has read about the civil war and doesn' t know how [Joseph] has escaped it as there has been 'bad work' for the men in New York he has heard tell of, 8 December 1864
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/23Letter from Jacob Peart of 1st Provisional Coy., 7th Illinois Cavalry, Okolona, Mississippi, to [Joseph Graham and Hannah Graham née Peart], in New York State, written in answer to letter from Elizabeth [John Peart 's wife] dated 1 May 1865; the writer states that he has been in good health since joining the army although he did suffer from 'direak' [diaorrhea] and a disordered stomach while travelling from East Port to Okolona; the writer states that the South acknowledges that it is beaten and the [Union] government has to feed the inhabitants of southern cities and towns or else they would starve; at present the writer's regiment is not doing anything and his only duty is to stand camp guard, to stop the soldiers of the regiment from stealing farm animals and molesting local women; reports that now the war is over he wants to come home as does Robert Wilkinson; the writer says that both he and Robert Wilkinson enlisted for the cavalry but their regiment turned out to be a dismounted one; also reports that he had a letter from home [Allendale] telling of the death of his sister Elizabeth on 12 November 1865 following a miscarriage; also John [Peart] and Adam [Peart] and Watson [Peart] are staying with mother [Elizabeth Peart]; Adam is working at Frazer Ironstone in Rookhope; Watson is working at Brandon Halls at Rookhope and John [Peart] is a painter to trade; mother [Elizabeth Peart] would not be well enought to travel to America and Adam, John and Watson had been put off going by news of the civil war; states that 'all looks very poor in Allenheads' and Allendale men are working all over the country especially Derwent; the writer asks to be reminded to John [Peart] and wife and little girl; wants to know if John [Peart] is home [from civil war?] yet; says that [Hannah Peart?] must write home to mother [Elizabeth?] as family is complaining about not getting enough letters and they want to know how [she?] is 'moving along in the state of New York'; the writer mentions that there are plenty of black people in Mississippi, including a black cook in their mess; asks that any mail be sent to the regiment in Okolona or if the regiment has moved on to Galena [or Jalena?] Post Office; the writer also asks that likenesses be sent to those in Jalena? who will send on theirs, 11 June 1865
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/24Letter from Christopher Graham, Killhope, to [Joseph Graham in U.S.A.], stating that family is in good health but the mining is poor; wages are generally low and the cost of living is higher than it was; gives prices of various produce; the writer mentions that he is still at the old house but has little company; also says that the winter has been very severe; reports that Hannah [Peadon, nee Graham' s] son Jo[seph] went to Australia in August 1866 but there has been no word from him yet; the writer also states that he saw old Betty Peart [Elizabeth Peart] and Watson Peart in Allendale in summer and they said they had had little word from [Joseph] but had had a letter from John [Peart] which said that Joseph was still at the old place; asks [Joseph] to write as it has been years since a letter has been received from him, 25 January 1867
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/25Letter from Thomas Graham, Puddingthorn, to [John Peart?], stating that the men of Killhope are all of [off] work except for 6 partnerships; also that the ironstone men have got notice to leave their work; Christopher [Graham] has not worked since November 1877 and is not yet fit; Thom [the writer's son?] has got a job in Northumberland burning lime; mentions that no letter has been received from Joseph [Graham] since April 1878 when he talked about coming east to his farm; the writer asks that Joseph's address, if known, should be passed on to him; also says that this is the third letter written to [John Peart?], the first two being unanswered, 15 August 1878
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 1035/26 (1) & (2)Letter from Isabella Stobbs, The Poplars, Frosterley, to Joseph Graham, his wife and daughter, U.S.A.; the writer mentions that although she did not know Joseph as she was only 9 weeks old when he left for U.S.A., she has decided to write with news of her family; states that her mother [Elizabeth Stobbs', Joseph' s sister] is almost 75 and is in poor health; the writer has lived and worked in Frosterley for 16 years and brought her mother to Frosterley 6 years ago; the writer is unmarried as is her brother William who stays with his mother; the writer gives news of her sisters: reports that her sister Hannah died 25 years ago in childbirth, the child [Elizabeth Fairless] was brought up by her grandmother [Elizabeth Stobbs] and now helps care for her; Bessie [Elizabeth] the writer' s eldest sister lives on a small farm in Frosterley and is remarried with 4 children from her first marriage, her son Joshua is a civil servant in Wolverhampton; Janie is married to her second husband, a coalminer, and lives at Heddon-on-the-Wall; Margaret is also married to a coalminer and lives in Shildon, she has 4 sons, her daughter died of measles 3 months before; the writer states that her mother [Elizabeth Stobbs] would like to see Joseph again and invites Joseph and his family to visit, 18 December 1887
(2 papers)
Ref: D/X 1035/27Photograph of photographic portrait of [Joseph Graham] as an elderly man c. 1890s, n.d., [late 20th c.]
(1 black and white photograph)
Ref: D/X 1035/28Photograph of [Joseph Graham' s] house [in Caton/Corning, New York], n.d. [late 20th c.]
(1 colour photograph)
Ref: D/X 1035/29Photograph of the barn and outbuildings [of Joseph Graham' s house in Caton/Corning, New York] n.d. [late 20th c.]
(1 colour photograph)